Members Of DAYGLO ABORTIONS Arrested In Ohio (UPDATED)

Two members of Canadian hardcore punk veterans Dayglo Abortions were arrested over the weekend in Ohio during the band’s ongoing U.S. tour. According to the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, vocalist/guitarist Murray Acton (performing under the moniker The Cretin) and guitarist Matt Fiorito were taken into custody on Saturday, August 30, following a performance at Cleveland venue No Class on August 29.

Acton was released on Tuesday, while Fiorito remains in custody on expected drug-possession charges, according to Victoria-based criminal lawyer Jim Heller, who is representing both musicians. Mugshots of the two were posted on the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office website, though no official charges have been formally filed.

Heller confirmed he has been in contact with Acton and Fiorito, as well as the arresting officers and the county prosecutor. He denied that the arrests had anything to do with immigration or border issues, explaining that the alleged offenses are minor possession charges that would likely never be prosecuted in Canada. Heller said:

“Very, very minimal possession charges, but you end up dealing with the jurisdiction that you find yourself in“

The band had been touring the U.S. in a van with temporary plates and was in the middle of a 14-show run, scheduled to conclude on September 14 in Charleston, South Carolina. Recent stops included Oregon, Missouri, Texas, and Florida. Heller said further details, including bail and bond, will be addressed once Fiorito is arraigned.

Dayglo Abortions are no strangers to controversy. Acton, who started the band in 1979, was previously the focal point of a landmark obscenity trial in Ontario in 1988. The case centered on two early full-length albums, Feed Us a Fetus (1986) and Here Today, Guano Tomorrow (1986). While the trial brought significant attention, the band members ultimately faced no charges, and their Toronto-based record label, Fringe Product Inc., was found not guilty of possessing obscene material for distribution.

“I’m hoping he’s OK and that the tour can continue,” Fiorito’s father, Joe Fiorito, told CTV News, noting he had not spoken directly with his son but had been informed that charges were expected to be laid.

The situation remains fluid as the band continues to navigate legal proceedings in Ohio while trying to maintain their U.S. tour schedule.

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